GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico’s agricultural industry is preparing to receive over $2.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Central Office of Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience of Puerto Rico, or COR3. This investment will lead to the recovery of this sector, which suffered multi-million-dollar losses due to the impact of Hurricane María.
This infusion of funds will provide an economic boost to the industry after the loss of 40 percent of the country’s agricultural infrastructure.
“Agriculture has a strong connection with the culture on the Island and with the people who for generations have worked the land with their own hands. There is a lot of history in these crops and we will continue to do our part to strengthen this sector that is worthy of admiration,” said Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Alex Amparo.
Among the obligations is $1.4 million to repair the facilities of the Coffee Trade Program for the Administration for the Development of Agricultural Businesses of the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture, located at the Yahuecas neighborhood in Adjuntas.
This is the only place on the Island where local and imported coffee is stored for processing and it also employs 13 people.
According to agronomist Jorge Quiles Maldonado, director of the program, its economic impact is incalculable, since it encompasses multiple industries that revolve around the product, its packaging, distribution and sale. Also, the facilities have a laboratory where farmers can measure the quality of their coffee.
